Parliament to tackle ‘public outcry’ over SABC– in a month’s time

21 July 2016 - 10:10 By TMG Digital

Parliament’s communications oversight body is “deeply concerned by developments at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as reported in the media”‚ but will only get around to dealing with them in a month’s time. Parliamentary Communication Services (PCS) said on Wednesday that Communications Minister Faith Muthambi will appear before the Portfolio Committee on Communications on August 23 “to report on the status of all entities that report to her‚ including the SABC”.“This after the committee has heard that SABC has dismissed eight of its journalists‚” a PCS statement read. “Although not privy to the merits and demerits of the cases‚ resignations and dismissals of employees are a reason for concern‚ especially in a country with high levels of unemployment‚” it quoted chairperson Humphrey Maxegwana as saying.“The SABC’s mandate is to broadcast in the public interest‚ but lately there has been public outcry about developments at the corporation. This is another reason for concern.”Maxegwana said the committee “notes the judgment by the High Court in Pretoria regarding the SABC and hopes that the corporation will abide by the judgment”.BDLive reported on Wednesday that the SABC backtracked on its decision to take on review the Independent Communications Authority’s (Icasa’s) order that it withdraw the decision to ban footage of violent protests where public property was being burnt.The public broadcaster’s attorney‚ Titus Mchunu‚ said the SABC had had an opportunity to study the Icasa order‚ and he was instructed that his client would now abide by it.This was confirmed by Icasa spokesperson Paseka Maleka.“The SABC has informed Icasa that it will abide by the order of (Icasa’s) council with immediate effect‚” he said.The SABC also capitulated in court earlier on Wednesday and agreed to withdraw its decision not to broadcast the footage.http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2016/07/21/Hlaudi-caves-as-SABC-furore-comes-to-a-headIt was not clear how this affected the seven of the eight suspended SABC employees‚ who were fired this week for questioning the editorial decision.Four of the journalists — Foeta Krige‚ Suna Venter‚ Jacques Steenkamp and Krivani Pillay — were expected to approach the Labour Court on Thursday in a bid to have their dismissals overturned. They were informed on Monday that they had been fired.The South African Communist Party (SACP) has expressed “its sincere solidarity with the SABC workers who have been dismissed following the imposition of a draconian editorial decree by the bosses without regard to due democratic public consultation process”.The party called on their fellow SABC staffers to show support for them at the court proceedings. – TMG Digital..

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